Getting Things Done-an overview

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity and Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life describe David Allen's "Getting Things Done" or "GTD" methodology.  I believe this is almost surely the most effective and well thought out time management system ever.  But it isn't easy to do, which is probably why I--like many people--didn't implement it fully the first time I tried it and did not get the full benefits.  I'm trying it again, and I'm determined to get it right this time.

As I mentioned in my last blog, a person who uses GTD correctly expands their brain in an area where the brain is weak.  A good GTD system adds memory to the brain, the way that an external hard drive adds memory to a computer.  But this external hard drive is quite specialized.  Allen writes that it needs to store all the information needed to gain perspective and control on your actions.  For perspective, you make lists of your goals from the highest, most general level (mission, dreams, purpose in life) to the most mundane, short term projects.  For control, you develop action plans, organize them, and follow the plans.  Both parts of the system--perspective and control--will only work if you make a habit of regularly reviewing and updating all the lists and plans.  Only then will your mind trust all the lists you're making and will let go of the compulsion to apply part of it's energy to "trying not to forget" what you need to do.